• Blue freight train moving on tracks

    Digital Automatic Coupler: Knorr-Bremse's DAC is revolutionizing freight transport.

  • Nighttime view of illuminated freight yard.

    Digital Automatic Coupler: Knorr-Bremse's DAC is revolutionizing freight transport.

To ensure that more freight is transported by rail, the rail freight industry needs to become more efficient and competitive. The Digital Freight Train (DFT), with the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) as its core component, is initiating a groundbreaking transformation that will make a key contribution to achieving the European Union’s climate targets.

Knorr-Bremse's Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC)

Knorr-Bremse’s 'FreightLink' DAC for freight cars and 'HybridLink' for locomotives are paving the way for the upgrade of rail freight transportation into the digital age. First, because they are automating the train coupling process, which is currently still manual. And second, because their electrical interfaces will enable the automation and digitalization of the entire rail freight transportation sector. This is why Knorr-Bremse regards these new center buffer couplers as an integral part of the Digital Freight Train (DFT) . This in turn is part of a much broader concept for making rail freight operations faster, more flexible, and easier to organize by using digital solutions.

Knorr-Bremse is a member of the “European DAC Delivery Programme” (EDDP) and a founding member of the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) – a public-private partnership between the European Union and the rail industry. As such, the company is playing a key role in the development of and impending migration to the DAC. The retrofitting program, involving up to 500,000 freight cars and 21,000 locomotives throughout the European Union, is due to start mid-decade. Thanks to its extensive product and industrialization expertise, backed up by a highly responsive local service network, Knorr-Bremse is positioning itself as a leading supplier of DAC and DFT applications.

Contact

Sales Automatic Coupling Solutions Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH

Moosacher Straße 80
80809 München
Deutschland - Germany

sales.coupling-systems@knorr-bremse.com

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Digital Automatic Coupling | ERJU
Product rendering of the Digital Automatic Coupler of Knorr-Bremse with vertical supportProduct rendering of the Digital Automatic Coupler of Knorr-Bremse with vertical support
The Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC) mounted with the e-coupler.

Coupling Portfolio

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The electric contact coupler for the Digital Automatic Coupler (DAC)

One key part of the Knorr-Bremse DAC is the innovative concept of the electric contact coupler (e-coupler). By connecting power and data lines from the locomotive all the way to the last freight car, e-couplers act as a crucial interface in the digital freight train. As such, they are essential for the digitized, intelligent, competitive transportation of freight by rail.

The Knorr-Bremse e-coupler satisfies all requirements of the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP) specification used as the framework for coordinating the Europe-wide launch of the DAC. They include, among other things, very restricted dimensions, high weathering resistance, and the ability to establish a connection between the delicate electrical contacts on two freight cars safely and gently during the coupling process. In addition, an unauthorized access by hand is not possible, so there is no risk being harmed by the current of the e-coupler.

The Knorr-Bremse e-coupler is the first concept to satisfy all the requirements of the European DAC Delivery Programme (EDDP)

Knorr-Bremse's Digital Automatic Coupling Systems at InnoTrans 2022

Digital Applications for Coupling Systems of Knorr-Bremse on InnoTrans 2022Digital Applications for Coupling Systems of Knorr-Bremse on InnoTrans 2022
A coupling expert explains the functions of the e-coupler to one of our customers.
Electric contact coupler of Knorr-Bremse at InnoTrans2022Electric contact coupler of Knorr-Bremse at InnoTrans2022
An absolute innovation for digital freight: the electric contact coupler.
Knorr-Bremses Digital Automatic Coupler installed in an INVEHO train at InnoTrans 2022Knorr-Bremses Digital Automatic Coupler installed in an INVEHO train at InnoTrans 2022
The DAC from Knorr-Bremse mounted with the e-coupler.

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